A wave of metallic-tasting blood surged in my throat. No wonder my mother, who had always favored Maria over me, had acted so strangely before her death.

On the day she was hanged, she cursed Maria, saying, "The moment Christopher chose to be the Garcia family's son-in-law for you, he ceased to be my son.

"Get out of this mansion!"

I watched my mother hang from the beams, her feet struggling in the air. After Maria and I were thrown out of the Thompson Mansion, the streets were filled with the stench of blood and cries for violence.

What did I do then? I let go of Maria's hand and rushed to the battlefield to save my brother. Maria, her eyes swollen from crying, struggled to follow me, holding on to the last of her strength.

I entered the battlefield where the second prince, having secured his claim to the throne, was already present with his men, rounding up the rebels. He sat in command, casually lifting the lid of his teacup, a gesture that seemed to flaunt his victory.

My older brother knelt before my father-in-law, his face smeared with blood. The second prince, stirring his tea, said with a hint of disdain, "Master Garcia, you're linked with the Thompson family. How can I trust you?"

My father-in-law's hand shook as he held his sword, the blade making a dull clank. My brother spat on the ground and retorted, "You're nothing but a cowardly prince. What makes you worthy of being king? Do you think you can prove yourself by killing people?"

"Master Garcia, in the world of kings, those who win and lose must act decisively. There's no time for hesitation," the prince replied coolly.

As my father-in-law raised his arm, Maria rushed forward and grabbed the sword. She was cut immediately, blood dripping down the blade. Maria cried out, "Please, don't kill him."

I tried to move forward, but my father-in-law's soldiers pinned me down. My usually gentle brother glared at Maria with fierce anger. "Maria, you seduced my brother into a secret marriage and now you pretend to care? I don't need your help."

My father-in-law kicked Maria aside, and in a flash, steel gleamed. My brother's blood sprayed onto Maria as she weakly crawled toward him, trembling.

I fought my way free from the soldiers, rushing to my brother's side and clinging to his lifeless body, my voice hoarse as I called his name. Applause echoed from above as the second prince approached, grinning and patting my father-in-law's shoulder. "Master Garcia, you've done well. When I take the throne, I'll make sure to reward you with a higher rank and title. ."

Tears streamed down my face as I held my brother, my hands shaking uncontrollably. At that moment, I swore I would not rest until I had my revenge. My heart was so consumed with pain and anger that I barely noticed what was happening around me.

Later, I knelt before the king, my fingers trembling. He sneered and said, "Christopher, your father-in-law's act of killing your brother hasn't eased my suspicions. I was curious to see how he would handle this situation."

"To my surprise, your father-in-law showed genuine loyalty, willing to sacrifice his own honor to save your life and let you mature."

I swallowed the blood in my mouth, remembering how Maria had called me to the study to clear up the misunderstanding. She said we needed to be honest with each other. When I arrived, I heard my father-in-law admit that he had betrayed me to gain power.

I pounded on the door frame of the study until it splintered, consumed by rage. I didn't even notice Maria's shocked and tearful state. In front of them both, I made a harsh vow, "Master Garcia, you've crossed the line. If you leave me alive, I'll rise to power over the Garcia family's corpses. Neither you nor Maria will escape."

With that, I stormed out. From then on, Maria didn't speak a word to me. Every night, I went to her room, grappling with the urge to strangle her, but my resolve faltered at the last moment.

Every time I looked at her, I remembered my mother's promise: "When Maria grows up, let Christopher marry her as a son-in-law." As a child, I had always bullied Maria, making her cry and shouting, "Maria, I don't want to be a son-in-law. If there's to be marriage, you should move to the Garcia family. Only then would I reluctantly accept."

The Garcia and Thompson families had been military families, brought together by battle. Maria's mother had died protecting my own mother. My mother always felt guilty towards Maria, thinking she was so unfortunate, losing her mother at such a young age.

In the end, I couldn't escape the consequences of my actions. My brother had often warned me to treat Maria better.

But what have I done?

After we had subdued the chaos, my troubles at the Garcia estate seemed unending. The servants at Garcia Mansion cast me looks so filled with disdain that it made me want to ball my fists in frustration.

The challenges didn't stop there; my progress in the world of politics was riddled with obstacles. Despite my relentless efforts to climb the ranks, the king had now turned his attention to my marriage with Maria.

Maria's father, with a grim expression, was adamant about pushing through with our wedding plans.

As the wedding feast concluded and the guests departed, the atmosphere in the mansion underwent a dramatic transformation. The joyous celebrations gave way to an eerie silence, replaced by the haunting sounds of desperation and pleas for mercy.

Everyone in the estate, including Maria's father, met their end by my sword. After a night of drinking, I found Maria's father in the study and drove my blade through him, avenging my brother's death.

He said nothing as he lay there, just smiling at me with that eerie calm.

Later, drenched in blood and still wearing my wedding clothes, I stepped into the bridal chamber and threw my sword aside.

Maria tried to get up, her eyes red and full of fear as she saw me. Her body shook uncontrollably.

I strode forward to push her onto the bed, tearing off her collar with my right hand. The sound of the wedding dress breaking open

I grabbed Maria by the chin, my grip tightening as I stared her down. "Maria, if your father hadn't been so focused on his own ambition, switching sides to secure his position, my parents wouldn't have died. My brother, who should have been out there achieving great things, was cut down by your father's sword.

"Do you have any idea how much pain I went through? Why did you leave me to fend for myself in the Garcia Mansion?

"I've faced nothing but disdain from your family and constant roadblocks in the political world. Do you even realize how tough this has been?"

I took off my wedding dress and made love to her without waiting for her to react.

A tear slid down Maria's cheek, and I brushed it away with one hand, only to tighten my grip on her throat with the other. "Maria, I want you to see the fallout from your father's actions, even after he's gone. I've gotten my revenge, but I'm not letting you off easily. You need to feel the pain I've been through."

The heavy curtains on the canopy bed swayed all night long. Maria sobbed beneath me, her voice failing her—probably because the poison I'd slipped into her drink was kicking in. Her throat was raw, and no sound came out.

I thought of my own mother, who was so like hers, and how my father had always cherished her. My brother's concern for her had been genuine. How could she not understand the agony of losing loved ones?

Our families had been close for years, and the political drama wasn't as I had believed. Maria's father had shaken with fear as he delivered the final blow, and I had turned a blind eye to Maria's suffering as she held that sword. Her father's secretive burning of paper offerings after her death seemed so insincere to me.

The ache in my chest was unbearable, like a thousand ants crawling inside. I coughed, and blood dribbled from the corner of my mouth.